"Mam, please look this side." One of the photographers requested and I turned to face the other bunch of them. My eyes were burning like a wood from their camera flashes and my smile was wobbly as my cheeks hurt from all the facade I had pulled up from the start of this night.

I am standing on the red carpet wearing my red gown with small crystals while the whole crowd of photographers are flashing their cameras at me and some other models. I am here at this celebratory event organized by the VANYA magazine to celebrate my victory as Miss Universe. This was the most proud moment for me and my friends but unfortunately not for my family members.

"Congratulations, Miss Mishra." Nitya, My manager congratulated coming from behind me. She is a nice lady with a great sense of ethics and fashion. She wore a halter-neck body-con dress for this event.

"Thank You so much, Nitya," I said with a smile and gave her a half hug. I waved at the cameras and We moved inside the huge hall full of people wearing designer dresses. I knew a few of them as hair stylists, and fashion designers from various fashion houses. The only people invited are VIPs and even the fashion editors too.

Our Organisation already celebrated my victory through Instagram posts and providing various benefits and Now I've to fulfill my duties as a role model and share stories, awakening women about their rights.

The whole process is beautiful as I would be traveling to different nations and experiencing their cultures. I even got a luxury apartment here in NYC which served the most beautiful view of the city from high above.

My inner self was happy and chirping again but my family would not be satisfied, their constant criticism is what I hate the most.

"Attention Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you everyone for gathering for and celebrating this beautiful success of our lady, Miss Anika Mishra." As the Emcee announced the hall filled with clapping sounds and next the spotlight was on me.

I smiled when everyone's head turned towards me, I waved a Hi as they reciprocated. This was awkward for me but I was settling for the things upcoming, this was what I'd put in my hard work for and I am achieving it even though I struggled a lot but the fruit was the sweetest.

Everyone around me gave me a standing ovation with big smiles on their faces but not all of them were happy, I could feel because in competitions like these, there was a hell lot of a hatred burning inside people's hearts and we didn't even know it.

The main purpose of today's celebration was to congratulate me and meet with people, moreover, I had to give them a speech, which fortunately I could give because I am a yapper sometimes. Here, Sometimes being a keyword. I do all the talking only with my close ones— my brother, my best friends and of course Nitya.

"You are Glowing." She whispered in my ear as my gaze trailed over everyone's faces and clothes, The women were in Red and Black outfits while the men were dressed in tuxedos.

I turned around giving her my genuine smile for the first time during this night, "Your blessings of course."

 I grinned when her wrinkled cheeks formed into a smile once again. She was an adult woman in her mid-forties who had been this career for more than fifteen years. She was fun to begin with but sometimes she gets a little too snarky.

"Oh, My Baby." And she babies me a lot, just like she was doing right now but I love her more than my own mother. Speaking of which, My mother was a nice woman but not to me as a matter of course.

"Look here, My. I found her." Divya's familiar voice was the one to which I turned around only to be greeted by my two crazy best friends grinning at me. I excused myself from Nitya and lunched at them, hugging them tightly. It has been a few days since I saw them, we talked online but personally it was something else.

"You both look like Twins," I said pulling back from them, gaping at their matching prom gowns. They looked beautiful, mesmerizing. "You are no less, babe." My, short for Myra said. She works as an editor for VANYA magazine, meanwhile, Divya has a well-growing fashion house. We all met in college during our freshman year and our bond is stronger than ever.

"We were so excited for you, My baby." Divya chirped, She's a cute little thing but she was the mother of all of us. Her family is well settled in Hyderabad while Myra's family moved to Canada a few years ago when her mother left her and her father went to hell for her, for his Myra.

"Pretty words coming from Mother." Myra grinned but it was no longer there when Div cut her a sharp glare, her lips were twitching but she maintained her fuck off the face."We're happy to inform you that our chief guest has arrived along with Mr. Singhania." The Emcee made an anouncement again, gesturing towards the door where the cameras flashed and two men fully clad in black entered the brightly lit hall.

They both looked intimidating, one had a few grey hairs while the other's one's were black and sleek. We were standing near the bar, on the left side and from here I could only see the old man who looked not more forty-five. He walked like a tiger on prowl while the other one walked beside him, adjusting his watch. The only glimpse I got was of his fine sharp jaw.

Everyone greeted them with smiles as the hall burst into claps while I stared at both men. One was the chief guest I guess, and the other one from what I've managed to hear from nearby guests was the owner of VANYA.

Myra and Divya were now both busy chugging down a few drinks when I caught a voice from beside me. I didn't look at the person but what I saw from the corner of my eye told me there were two ladies, one wearing red like me while the other wore a purple dress. They were talking and ogling every person in the room.

"You know that Singhania one?" One of them spoke. "No, I don't but is he the one with styled hair and broad shoulders?" This was the other. "Yes he is the bastard, My family sent him a wedding proposal but he straight outta rejected saying, and I quote, I don't want a baby in my home." The girl in the red spoke and I could feel her distressed expression while explaining.

I cut out their conversation as I focused on the event, obviously ignoring Mr. Singhania and his guest. I didn't get to look at his face though but he was the most intimidating one. "Ani, Where are you lost?" Div came to me breaking my attention from the roaming people.

"I'm here," I replied softly as though I seemed lost. I hope my parents were here, congratulating me, hugging me. My brother would have loved this event. I miss them but they were angry, they don't want me.This happened when I was little and wanted to pursue this career, my grandparents were alive then, they were good but everything collapsed on me when they died.

My parents being traditional wanted me to marry someone as the company went to my brother after his graduation. But I pleaded with them to send me to America for higher studies, and that too took me a lot of scolding. It wasn't that they were against my studies but they didn't want me to go abroad.

I faced them, took their scolding, and held them with pride but then I changed my mind after graduation and went by this way. And now they were more disappointed, Someday I have to face them. My father would come here too but I don't know what was stopping him from coming here.

"Ani, You are being called upon stage." My whispered from behind me as I blinked a few times chasing my unshed tears away. I put on a smile, the best I can do for now.

"Don't think about them." She nudged my side, giving me a knowing look. I gave her a nod before putting up my smile as I made my way to the stage, all eyes upon me, looking for the slightest bit of hesitation or even a mistake.

I reached on the top, holding the mic as my eyes wandered around and settled on him again but he wasn't looking at me. Most of the people weren't as they were engaged in their own meetings. This event was not only for me but to seal the deals too.

As if feeling my eyes upon him, he turned around to look as I ended my short speech addressing everyone, and thanking them, my parents of course.

He stared at me, from afar, his dark orbs piercing through my skin as if he would eat me alive, or even bang my head on this same stage. His every move was calculative, smooth, and enchanting but his eyes were dangerous. I could feel my heart in my throat as he stared at me for a few seconds and looked away.

I might not know him but from his actions and what I have seen, He was a Danger to everyone because he looks at every person like he resents each one of them.